Creating a robust future for Gaelic and Scots

From: Scottish Government
Published: Wed Aug 24 2022


Languages consultation launched.

A commitment to ensure the long-term growth of Gaelic and Scots is at the heart of a new public consultation launched today.

The consultation seeks views on how to raise the profile of Scots, a new strategic approach to Gaelic medium education (GME) and the creation of a Gidhealtachd, areas with a higher percentage of Gaelic speakers. It also covers the structure and function of Brd Na Gidhlig - the principal public body promoting Gaelic in Scotland.

This feedback will help develop the forthcoming Scottish Languages Bill.

The 2011 census indicated that 57,375 people spoke Gaelic and 87,100 said they had some Gaelic skills and over 1.5 million people identified themselves as Scots speakers.

Launching the consultation during a visit to the GME unit at Goodlyburn Primary in Perth, Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:

"Gaelic and Scots are a significant part of Scotland's culture and we want to ensure they thrive and grow.

"The situation for Gaelic speakers is an improvement on ten years ago as there are increased numbers in Gaelic medium education and more initiatives in place to support Gaelic in Scotland.

We now need to build on what is in place and this consultation will show how we can make our measures more effective, ensuring Gaelic medium education continues to grow and provides a high quality education, that Brd na Gidhlig operates effectively in the promotion of Gaelic, and consideration is given to the creation of a Gidhealtachd.

"Scots is spoken throughout Scotland, but has never benefited from formal support through legislation and it may be time to consider this to help promote, strengthen and raise the profile of the language."

Background

The consultation will run until 17 November.

Traditionally the Gidhealtachd has been a term used for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. However, there is growth in Gaelic speaking communities across the central belt and the consultation seeks to explore what relevance the term Gidhealtachd has for policy application and what further measures could be used for supporting and promoting the Gaelic language.

A' cruthachadh teachd-m lidir do Ghidhlig is Albais

Co-chomhairleachadh cnain air a chur air bhog.

Tha gealladh gus danamh cinnteach gum fs Gidhlig is Albais san ine fhada aig cridhe co-chomhairleachaidh phoblaich ire a chaidh a chur air bhog an-diugh.

Tha an co-chomhairleachadh a' sireadh bheachdan air togail inbhe na h-Albais, dogh-obrach ro-innleachdail r son Foghlam tron Ghidhlig (FTG), is cruthachadh Gidhealtachd oifigeil ann an itichean le ireamh nas motha sa cheud de luchd-labhairt na Gidhlig. Coimheadaidh e cuideachd ri structar is gnomhan Bhrd na Gidhlig - am promh bhuidheann phoblach a' brosnachadh Gidhlig ann an Alba.

Cuidichidh am fios-air-ais seo le leasachadh Bile nan Cnan Albannach a tha ri teachd.

Sheall cunntas-sluaigh 2011 gun robh 57,375 neach a' bruidhinn Gidhlig is 87,100 ag radh gun robh cuid a sgilean Gidhlig aca agus dh'ainmich crr air 1.5 millean neach iad fhin mar luchd-labhairt Albais.

A' cur a' cho-chomhairleachaidh air bhog 's i a' tadhal air aonad FTG Bun-sgoil Goodlyburn, thuirt Rnaire an Fhoghlaim Shirley-Anne Somerville:

Tha Gidhlig is Albais nam pirt chudromach de theachd-m na h-Alba is tha sinn airson danamh cinnteach gu bheil iad a' brosnachadh is a' fs.

Tha piseach air a bhith ann an suidheachadh luchd-labhairt na Gidhlig an taca ri deich bliadhna air ais leis gu bheil ireamhan nas motha ann am Foghlam tron Ghidhlig is barrachd iomairtean ann an ite gus taic a thoirt do Ghidhlig ann an Alba.

Feumaidh sinn a-nis togail air na th' ann an ite is seallaidh an co-chomhairleachadh seo mar as urrainn dhuinn ar ceumannan a dhanamh nas ifeachdaich, a' danamh cinnteach gun cm foghlam tron Ghidhlig a' fs is a' tabhann oideachadh aig sr re, gu bheil Brd na Gidhlig ag obair gu h-ifeachdach ann a bhith a' brosnachadh na Gidhlig, is aire a thoirt do chruthachadh Gidhealtachd oifigeil.

Tha Albais air a bruidhinn air feadh Alba, ach cha d'fhuair i riamh buannachd bho thaic oifigeil tro reachdas is dh'fhaodadh gu bheil an t-m ann smaoineachadh mun sin gus cuideachadh le brosnachadh, neartachadh is togail inbhe a' chnain.

Cl-fhiosrachaidh

Leanaidh an co-chomhairleachadh gu 17 Samhain.

Gu traidiseanta 's e Gidhealtachd teirm a th' air a chleachadh son na sgre ris an canar the Highlands and Islands ann am Beurla. Ach, tha coimhearsnachd na Gidhlig thairis meadhan na h-Alba a' fs is tha an co-chomhairleachadh airson rannsachadh d am buntainneas a th' aig an teirm Gidhealtachd son buileachadh poileasaidh is d na ceumannan a bharrachd a b' urrainn a bhith air an cleachdadh son taic is brosnachadh a thoirt don Ghidhlig.

Biggin a strang future for Gaelic an Scots

Langage consultation Launchit.

A commitment for tae mak siccar the lang term growth o Gaelic an Scots is at the hairt o a new public consultation launchit the day.

The consultation is efter thochts on whit wey for tae heeze the profile o Scots, a new stratigic tak on Gaelic medium education (GME), an the foondin o a new Gidhealtachd, airts an pairts whaur there a guid percent o Gaelic spikkers. Hit taks in tae the makkins an wirkins o the Brd Na Gidhlig - the heidmaist public group heezin up the Gaelic athin Scotland.

This feedback wull help in the makkin o the forecomin Scottish Langages Bill.

The 2011 census shawit thit 57,275 bodies spiks Gaelic an thit 87,100 pit thit they haed a drap Gaelic, an ower 1.5 million fowk considerit theirsels Scots spikkers.

Stertin aff the consultation durin a visit tae the GME unit at Goodlyburn Primary in Perth, Education Secretar Shirley-Anne Somerville sayed:

"Gaelic an Scots are significant pairts o Scotland's culture an we're wantin for tae mak siccar thit they floorish an grow.

"The situation for Gaelic spikkers the noo is faur better nor ten year syne gien there mair fowk in Gaelic medium education an there mair inititives been pitten in place for tae support Gaelic in Scotland.

"We're needin noo for tae bigg on whit is in place an this consultation wull shaw us whit weys we kin mak oor misures mair effective, makkin siccar Gaelic medium education keeps growin an gies the tapmaist quality education, thit the Brd Na Gidhlig is wirkin effective in the heezin o Gaelic, an thit thocht is gien tae the makkin o a Gidhealtachd.

"Scots is spoke athort aw o Scotland, but haesna benefittit fae formal support throu legislation, an hit micht be timeous for tae consider this for tae help promote, strenthen, an heeze up the profile o the leid."

Backgrun

The consultation wull rin throu tae the 17t o Novemmer.

Traditionally the Gidhealtachd haes been a term uisit for the Heilans an Islands o Scotland. Hou an iver, there a growth o Gaelic spikkin communities athort the central belt an this consultation is wantin for tae splore whit relevance the term Gidhealtachd haes for policy application an whit misures gaun forret are wantit tae be uisit for backin up an heezin the Gaelic leid.

Company: Scottish Government

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